(MCT) NEW YORK—Getting old is not easy for anyone. But aging poses particular problems for members of the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Compared with heterosexual counterparts, many more of them are socially isolated, fear discrimination from health-care providers, live alone and do not have children to call upon for help.

Those were among the challenges addressed by the 4th National Conference on LGBT Aging, which drew more than 600 participants during its recent three-day run.

Organized by Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders, a New York-based nonprofit agency with 10 affiliates around the country, the conference was sponsored by AARP.

According to SAGE, nationally, there are about 3 million LGBT people older than 55, a number projected to grow to about 4 million in 10 years

As the oldest of the 80 million Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2011, there will be many “Gayby Boomers” among them.

There is a difference between these boomers and prior LGBT generations, members of which often spent their lives hiding their sexual orientation.

Because of dramatic social changes during the lives of LGBT boomers—such as the gay rights movement and legalization of same-sex marriage—many more felt comfortable publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation.

About 44 percent are “completely out” and 31.7 percent are “mostly out,” according to “Out and Aging: The MetLife Study of Lesbian and Gay Baby Boomers,” conducted by Zogby International and released by MetLife in 2006.

As a result, gerontologists and other specialists on LGBT aging said they expect this generation of LGBT elders to demand treatment from care providers and residential programs that not only is better than what prior generations received, but that addresses issues such as sexual orientation and sexual behavior among the elderly.

The top concerns expressed by these seniors about aging generally are shared by all seniors, said Jean Quam, a dean at Minnesota-Twin Cities, who worked on the MetLife study.

Their greatest fears: being unable to cope, being dependent, being sick or disabled, outliving their income, becoming confused and being alone.

“The things we’re talking about are true for most seniors. They just have particular twists in our context and can be exacerbated in our context,” said Michael Adams, SAGE executive director.

In some cases, fear of discrimination or feeling unwelcome drives LGBT seniors to hide their orientation.

“People think, ‘I’m safer in the closet,’” Adams said.

© 2008 McClatchy-Tribune News